Holy crap Pete,

I didn't realize that the dead spot in the gauge ended right as the coolant gave up the ghost, I knew full well it was there and have read the mod on ih8mud but no one mentioned that it is set to START moving when it is all over(from a tech point of view that is not as a generalization), even with the NULL point I assumed (as you do given the markings) that once the gauge came out of the null and started moving the car was hotter than running temps but wasn't in immediate danger till near the red. Damn, are those temps fact mate?

Cheers Glenn

yeah tjats what several have tested and come back with and my two other gauges seem to confirm it.

Gob smacked...

As a side note I just went and grabbed my cap out of the parts box and it is 13Psi. So mine won't boil when the gauge starts moving. Not sure if you guys have the same or not, that cap is off my 1HD-T but I am almost certain that the one that was on my 1FZ-FE was the same.

Cheers Glenn

I was just wondering if the gauge would run in the same temp ranges as the petrol? Only one way to find out eh! Maybe we could look at getting a few sent over from the US?

Thats an interesting point Shane as I wouldn't think so as the two motors should have completely different operating ranges.

Cheers Glenn

The Genuine Toyota Cap for my 93 1FZE was 15 psi

Ah there you go, so with the Yota red yours won't aerate till about 129.5 degrees C. So once your gauge starts moving you have a little time to stop and unload the engine to let it cool down at an idle. Very little time mind you but some all the same and at the point that it starts to move it hasn't done the heads in.

Cheers Glenn

The temps I gave were quoted by 4 different radiator places. I did find that once I had an electric guage installed the truck would hit 115 deg C and the OEM guage still wasn't moving.

Regardless of the type of coolent you use I still wouldn't run over 115, thinking that you have a buffer just because you're using a particular coolent could be your downfall in the longer term.

I'd think the diesels would run a little hotter, ideal diesel engine temp is 88 deg C. I'd think a petrol would be a little lower. Any of the petrol heads know what temp thermostat is in their truck?

Regardlessof how you choose to mitigate this fact , the message is the same, don't trust the OEM temp gauge for accurate information......it lies to you every time you look at it.

Hi Pete,

Yeah the message is the indeed the same but even so the coolant will not boil and therefore allow hot spots to form until 129.5 degrees. So at that point (assuming its in perfect working order) the stock gauge will already have been on the move. Yes it lies, but, if you really are having heating issues and the gauge works as it should then you will still see it rise prior to it actually boiling and doing damage.

Having said that I have a 50mm quality temp gauge ready to go in during the rebuild as I have never trusted the stock gauge to give you enough warning. 4 degrees won't take long to achieve in a car thats overheating and it probably won't be enough time to get to a safe area to pull over and unload the poor thing.

Cheers Glenn

Normally I'd agree Glenn, about the gauge rising and giving warning. The problem I have had is that it hasn't risen and given warning and the cooling system had just had $800 spent on it.

My personnal experience may be getting in the way of the "norm", but I no longer trust norms as it's failed me in the past, the once bitten principle you could say.

Gauges that are critical to the life of the engine have decent after market electrical gauges installed. For me that's water temp and oil px at a minimum, EGT would be nice. If it's turbo'd then water temp, oil px, EGT and boost are minimum.

Yeah true that, given the history of them you just can't trust them. I think everyone should have at a minimum what you have listed there (I do personally).

I am looking at having one on each diff atm as well to warn of any leaks that may come up suddenly when playing in mud/water etc.

Anyone got pics of mounts for more than 6 50mm gauges in the Cruiser?

Cheers Glenn

320,000kms and still going strong.

Has anyone looked at the "Engine Watchdog TM2" unit Web Page Name to monitor engine temps and provide as a warning system to overheating??

Never knew about the dead spot, just never thought about before, but now I can think of lots of Jap cars that are like this!!!

Yep - I liked the product so much I sell them now!